By Udora Orizu
The House of Representatives has directed its committee on Aids, Loan and Debt Management to investigate the alleged exclusion of Rivers State from states to benefit from projects to be executed with the fresh external loan the federal government is seeking approval from the National Assembly.
The lawmakers gave the directive at plenary yesterday, after amending and adopting a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Hon. Solomon Bob (PDP, Rivers), after a slight disagreement.
President Muhammadu Buhari had last week sought the approval of the Senate to obtain $4 billion and €710 million loans to address critical projects approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
Bob had while moving the motion recalled that the federal government recently forwarded a request to the National Assembly for approval of fresh external loans for execution of various projects in all the states of the federation.
He cited reports by THISDAY and all national newspapers on September 21st, 2021, that Rivers State was the only state excluded from the list of states to benefit from projects to be executed with the loans.
The lawmaker noted that section 15(4) & (5) of the constitution provides the state shall foster a feeling of belonging and of involvement among the various peoples of the federation, to the end that loyalty to the nation shall override sectional loyalties.
He stated that the foregoing provision imposed a duty on the federal government to ensure equitable distribution of resources and projects across the federation and among the states in such a manner as to eschew exclusion and ensure fairness in administering the affairs of the government of the federation.
He added that the reports, if true, render the federal government’s action as not only contrary to the spirit and letters of the constitution, but cruelly discriminatory against the people of the Rivers State, saying such a discriminatory treatment was capable of creating a sense of alienation, exclusion and discontent.
He said, “Further worried that it is incomprehensible that Rivers State, which contributes enormously to the country’s foreign exchange earnings and through whose huge oil and gas resources a large part of the loan repayment depends, could be inexplicably excluded from benefitting from projects for which the loans are being sought; again worried that the alleged exclusion is capable of being interpreted as a partisan vindictiveness against the people of the state because of differences of opinion on national issues.”
Shortly after, the Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Tahir Monguno in his contribution, was of the view that the lawmakers were ambushed by the motion sponsor, for presenting the matter under urgent Public Importance, saying they didn’t have all the facts.
He, therefore, advised that the matter ought to have been brought as a notice, not urgent motion.
Also, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Idris Wase suggested that the matter doesn’t fall under urgent motion but rather a notice, hence should be stepped down by the sponsor.
Corroborating the lawmakers’ assertion, the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila asked the sponsor, Bob if he wants to step down the motion.
Bob, however, insisted that he won’t step it down, saying rather amendments to the motion was welcomed.
Thereafter, the lawmakers amended that if during the course of the investigation, other 34 states and FCT are found to be included as beneficiaries, while Rivers State was excluded, then Rivers should also to be included as a beneficiary.
